The pilot died while flying a Turkish Airlines plane from the US to Türkiye

A Turkish Airlines pilot has died after falling ill on his own flight from Seattle on the US northwest coast to Istanbul in Türkiye.

Captain Ilcehin Pehlivan, 59, fell in mid-air and a second pilot and co-pilot took control, an airline spokesman told X.

“When first aid to our captain on the plane failed, the crew in the cockpit…decided to make an emergency landing, but he died before landing,” Yahya Ustun explained.

The Airbus 350 landed in New York and plans were then made to take passengers to Türkiye from there, he added.

Pehlivan has been flying with Turkish Airlines since 2007 and had a routine medical check-up in early March that found no health problems that could affect his work, the airline said. .

Turkish Air Traffic Controllers Association TATCA said he had served the aviation community for many years and sent condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.